WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Army opened the winter portion of its schedule with a 4,668-4,652 defeat of Murray State at Tronsrue Marksmanship Center on Friday afternoon. Senior All-Americans Michael Matthews and Richard Calvin led the way taking match honors in smallbore and air rifle, respectively, as Army leveled its season mark at 3-3.
The No. 8 Black Knights bested the No. 11 Racers in smallbore 2,324-2,000 and that 24-point margin proved the difference for Army as Murray State nipped its host by eight points (2352-2344) in air rifle.
Army grabbed the top three sports in smallbore with Matthews' 585 setting the pace with senior classmate and All-American Joseph Todaro finishing a close second (583). Sophomore Alyssa Gestl (580) grabbed the third spot and freshman Allen Solida was sixth (576) in rounding out Army's firing unit.
Calvin tied his career-high 595 in air rifle to deny Murray State after outpointing Katarina Bisercic by three points for medalist honors as the Racers swept the next three places.
Seniors Zachary Wells and Todaro interrupted that run after grabbing fifth place by matching each other's scores with 586 followed by Matthews' 585 in placing eighth. Wells posted his highest score of the season firing individually, while Olivia Nardone (578) closed out Army's scoring contingent.
Army's composite and smallbore scores were just one point shy of season highs set in the fall against West Virginia, while its mark in air rifle was five points behind the result fired at the President's Trophy match.
"We had a great performance today as evidence of our scores," head coach Ron Wigger said. "It was a great way to start off the second half of our schedule, and I hope to see us carry this into Sunday's match against No. 1 Kentucky."
